The Science

Why each ingredient was chosen for Relief Factor:

Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)

EPA and DHA are essential omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil that are well known to promote healthy inflammatory balance. By acting as substrates for the body’s various anti-inflammatory mediators, EPA and DHA are essential to the promotion of a healthy inflammatory responses.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker found in the blood, the levels of which rise in response to inflammation.

Studies show that the higher the omega-3 levels in the blood of healthy individuals, the lower the CRP concentration.8

Supplementation with EPA and DHA has been shown in some, although not all, studies to decrease CRP levels as well as other biomarkers of inflammation in the blood.9-12

Published clinical trials and case studies also demonstrate the important role of EPA/DHA in supporting the health of the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems including mood.12-16

Curcumin is a potent suppressor of NF-KappaB and has been shown to decrease NF-KappaB in humans when taken as a supplement. 20

Because of its effects on NF-KappaB, Curcumin is a powerful suppressor of COX-2, the key enzyme in the formation of potent mediators in the inflammatory response.22

Due to its anti-inflammatory activity, curcumin demonstrates beneficial effects on muscle regeneration after trauma and the ability to offset muscle-damaging effects of downhill running.23-24

Curcumin speeds recovery of running performance in mice by reducing inflammation-induced deficits in regeneration of muscle fibers, soreness, and fatigue.23

Curcumin ameliorates pain sensitivity via mechanisms that are likely independent of its anti-inflammatory activity according to a number of animal studies.25-29 For example, in insulin-treated diabetic mice exhibiting increased sensitivity to pain either curcumin or resveratrol taken by mouth significantly reduced pain sensitivity.29

Promising results from preclinicial and animal data are beginning to emerge.43-44

A double blind placebo controlled trial published in 2011 randomized two groups (10 each) of normal-weight healthy subjects to placebo or a standardized Polygonum cuspidatum extract containing 40 mg resveratrol daily for six weeks. Blood indices of oxidative and inflammatory stress were measured and resveratrol was found to induce significant reductions in reactive oxygen species generation, NF-kappaB binding, and numerous pro-inflammatory markers including TNF-alpha, IL-6, and C-reactive protein compared with the baseline and the placebo.45

In rodents, pro-inflammatory molecules known as cytokines are key players in the development of back and leg pain resulting from unhealthy discs and spinal nerves. In rodents, by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, resveratrol significantly reduces pain behavior with disc-related pain.37